ChloeAlthough I was involved with organizing the wedding from the beginning, my surprise at how the venue turned out was genuinely pleasant. Tables were already set and decorated with a charming combination of white flowers, while the altar and the chairs covered with silk were being placed as we arrived.Gina chose the most prominent spot - the Greystone Mansion. It started as a joke when she declared she wouldn’t settle for anything less than the most expensive venue, and Ryan went and made reservations. Later, she protested and wanted to cancel, but her future husband did his magic and convinced her it was, in fact, the perfect place to say their vows.The hairstylist and make-up artist were already there, and they started working on Gina the moment we entered the apartment preordained for the bride. Even though they insisted on dolling me up, I categorically refused; too much color never looked good on me. So I opted for bolder eyeliner and red lipstick, a combination that never

ChloeI couldn’t say that the night behind me was easy - it was everything but.However, knowing I did the right thing helped me stay on course and not drown in sorrow. I was sad, and I missed him like crazy; hell, even my bedsheets bore the memory of him… they still smelled of him. But I wasn’t falling apart. I could navigate my life without Gabriel while loving him the same.When I thought about it, it was high time I visited the old family cottage at Lake Alice. I spent many vacations with my parents there, and many great memories tied me to that place. After they died, Grandma and I decided to sell the Seattle house, but I couldn’t say goodbye to the cottage. I hadn’t been there for a few years, and now was a perfectly good moment to revisit the past.Little before 8 o’clock, I headed downstairs, wanting to start early. But truth be told, I was getting eager to see Abby, and that eagerness was not letting me sit still and wait.Just as I had hoped, not an hour later, my coworkers

Gabriel“Gabriel, son!” Douglas exclaimed when he came to greet me.Butler followed behind Scott, more loyal to him than his own shadow.I ignored the offered hand and moved to take a seat - I wasn’t here for the pleasantries; we passed that stage eons ago. “Where are your wife and daughter?”“Oh,” a glider of hope sparked his eye. “Arabella is here, and Molly should arrive at any moment.” A slight nod of his head was a sign enough for the butler to disappear, to call for the house mistress, I presumed. “What brings you here?”His expectations reflected on his face, despite his best efforts to hide them.And I?I was never more grateful for being stuck in a traffic jam than today. Moving at a snail’s pace through the city allowed me to calm down and collect myself. No matter how tempting burning down everything in my way was, I should play it smart. Enjoying the sweet taste of violence was a luxury I could not afford - the aftertaste would not feel half as good as the one waiting for

Chloe“I know you can hear me, Chloe!” Gabriel roared as I stood in place, petrified, unable to move. “I won’t repeat myself!”I was never scared of him, not even when he confronted me that first morning he woke up in my home. And I had to admit that wasn’t the most pleasant sight.But now? Now it was a different story altogether.The door separating us was no obstacle to the waves of rage that rolled off him and struck me, shaking the ground I was standing on. I shivered in fear and anticipation at the same time as I reached for the knob; there was no doubt in my mind that the thin wood would end up scattered around in splinters if I didn’t comply with his demand.‘Man up, Chloe! It’s not some psycho killer there, but Gabriel! The man you love!’ so I pulled the handle.My eyes landed on the fuming figure, partially concealed by darkness, adding more weight to the anvil pressing my heart.Waiting for no invitation, Gabe stormed inside and shut the door behind him, locking them swiftly

Chloe“Grrrh… just a few more minutes!” I snuggled deeper into Gabe’s chest, relishing the scent of his skin.A tempting groan sent shivers down my spine, arousing my still-sensitive body; the night behind us was scorching hot despite the smell of snow in the air.“We need to get something to eat.”At the mere mention of food, my stomach started complaining loudly, invoking a wholehearted laugh from Gabe.“See? I have to feed you.”“There’s no delivery here.” I couldn’t help but tease him about his inability to prepare a simple meal. “But there is some food in the fridge; I‘ll fix us something.”I tried to get up, but Gabriel’s arms tightened around me, pulling me impossibly closer, and I could do nothing but comply - I didn’t get enough of him to compensate for the time I was without him.Now that things between us were clear, the silence was comfortable again. Lulled by the slightly fastened heartbeats that resonated inside his chest, I let my thoughts float freely.But no matter ho